Question

Provide 1 (one) example each of how power relationships and power gradients have been manifest in recent and in early colonial times.

Answer 1

Power is a very strong motive of every individual and it has been used in various positive and numerous negative aspects throughout the time span. Power relationship can be referenced to a sort of relation in which one member in the relation has a greater power than the other or in other ways, one member exerts power and control over the other. In this context only, power gradient refers to the amount or intensity of power one perceives to be having over another. Basically, it deals with the perception of power which a higher authority feels to be having over a lower authority.

Power relationship and power gradient has been present from the colonial times till now. In the early colonial times, the power relationship was such that the controlling country or ruling country used to have a higher power gradient over the country or countries which were being ruled. The power hierarchy was such that the ruling countries were at top with higher power than the other countries.

At present times, in many countries which dictatorship the leader is known to have a higher power gradient over all the individuals living in the country. In democratic countries also, the government has a higher power gradient over the common people. Infact in corporate firms also, we can witness examples of power relationship as the management has a higher power gradient over the employees.